Gettysburg Daily

Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop: Union Counterattacks Part 6

December 7, 2011

Colonel Francis Voltaire Randall Sr. (1824-1885) commanded the 13th Vermont Infantry Regiment during the Gettysburg Campaign. He was a pre-war lawyer, and postmaster, and served as a Captain in the 2nd Vermont Infantry. In 1864 he commanded the 17th Vermont Infantry Regiment. After the war he resumed his law career and frequently letured on the Battle of Gettysburg. This view was taken circa the 1860s.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Dr. Rich Goedkoop is the host for a series on Union Counterattacks on Cemetery Ridge During July 2, 1863. He is a professor of Communication at LaSalle University. Rich began his professional career in education as a Graduate Assistant at Central Michigan University. He received his Masters there in 1977 and went on to Pennsylvania State University to receive his Doctorate in 1980. Rich joined La Salle that same year. Throughout his career, Rich has taken an active interest in news and public affairs television programming which inspired his book, Inside Local Television News (1988). His numerous reviews and articles have appeared in such publications as Journalism Quarterly, The Journal of Broadcasting, Feedback, and Critical Studies in Mass Communication.

Rich Goedkoop writes, “I wish to thank Licensed Battlefield Guide and close friend Cliff Detweiler, for research assistance on this series. I would also like to thank Mr. Dale Gallon and Ms. Anne Gallon of Gallon Historical Art, Gettysburg, PA (Gallon.com) for the gracious use of two of Dale Gallon’s paintings for illustrations of key moments of the First Minnesota at Gettysburg.”

In the first Union Counterattacks’ post, Rich Goedkoop introduces us to the Union Counterattacks’ series, and explains how Major General Sickles’ forward move on July 2, 1863 necessitated the counterattacks.

In the third Union Counterattacks’ post, LBG Rich Goedkoop showed us the monument to the 126th New York and the markers for the positions of Willard’s Brigade and the site where Willard was killed.

In the fourth Union Counterattacks’ post, LBG Rich Goedkoop shows us the monuments to the 150th New York and the 1st Maryland Potomac Home Brigade on Culp’s Hill, and where they attacked at the Trostle Farm on July 2, 1863.

In the fifth Union Counterattacks’ post, Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop shows us the area where the First Minnesota Infantry Regiment charged from Cemetery Ridge into the area around Plum Run on July 2, 1863.

In today’s Union Counterattacks’ post, Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop shows us the area where the 13th Vermont Infantry Regiment charged from Cemetery Ridge to the area of the Rogers Farm on July 2, 1863.

This map shows the location of the videos for Union Counterattacks series. Videos #1-#13 were shown in our previous posts. Video #11 was taken at the monument to the 150th New York Infantry Regiment. Video #12 was taken at the monument to the 1st Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. Video #13 was taken at the Trostle Farm. Videos #s 14-16 were taken near the monument to the 1st Minnesota Regiment on Cemetery Ridge.Videos #s 17-18 were taken near the monument to the 13th Vermont Regiment on Cemetery Ridge. This map was created facing north at approximately 5:30 AM on Saturday, November 19, 2011.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is the host for this series on Union Counterattacks. He is standing on Cemetery Ridge near the monument to the 13th Vermont Infantry Regiment. The large monument in the right background is the Pennsylvania State Monument. The 13th Vermont Infantry Regiment was raised in the summer of 1862 and mustered into service in October, 1862 with 968 officers and men. Prior to the Gettysburg Campaign they and most of George Stannard’s second Vermont Brigade were in the defenses of Washington, with the 13th near Centreville, Virginia. The Brigade was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac while that army was on its march and the 13th reached the field late on the day of July 1st and was assigned as the Third Brigade, Third Division, First Corps. It was commanded by Colonel Francis V. Randall who led five of its companies on a counterattack on July 2nd out as far as the Rogers House along the Emmitsburg Road. On July 3rd they participate in the repulse of Pickett’s Charge. The regiment mustered out on July 21, 1863 in Brattleboro, Vermont. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.

In Video #17 (Videos #1-#16 were shown in our previous posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is standing by the monument to the 13th Vermont Infantry Regiment on Cemetery Ridge. He explains how they were ordered to retake some Union artillery pieces near the site of the Rogers House. This view was taken facing southeast to southwest at approximately 5:00 PM on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.

Francis Voltaire Randall Jr., known as “Jimmie” (April 3, 1851-March, 1924), was the son of Colonel Francis V. Randall Sr. of the 13th Vermont Infantry. Jimmie Randall was mustered into the 13th Vermont as a musician on January 1, 1863 (age 11 years and nine months) and served as a drummer for Company F. In 1923 he received “a medal for bravery” from “the War Department in Washington… for carrying water to the wounded under fire in the Battle of Gettysburg… Mr. Randall was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg, and wore throughout his life, a silver plate in his head, put in by Army surgeons.” (The information about Jimmie’s wounds and a medal come from his obituary in the Vermont Tribune, Ludlow Vermont, on March 12, 1924). Randall himself was proud that he “was personally thanked by General Stannard for staying on the field at Gettysburg.” This view was taken facing south at approximately 5:00 PM on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.

Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop is standing on Cemetery Ridge by the monument and artillery pieces that mark a position of Lieutenant Gulian Weir’s Battery C, 5th United States Artillery. This view was taken facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.

In Video #18 Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop explains the result of the advance by the 13th Vermont towards the Rogers House on July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing northeast to southwest to north at approximately 5:00 PM on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.

A closer view of the text on the marker for Weir’s Battery. This view was taken facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.

The strengths and losses of the Union units that counterattacked the Confederates along Cemetery Ridge on July 2, 1863.

One of the best books regarding the action on July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg is a book by a former Gettysburg National Park Service Historian, Harry Pfanz. It is titled, Gettysburg: The Second Day.

To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides,click here.